2026 Salary Data · Raleigh, NC

Product Designer Salary in Raleigh

How much does a Product Designer make in Raleigh? Salary data, top employers, and career insights for Product Designers in the Research Triangle area.

$150K
Median Total Comp
-8%
vs National Avg
moderate
Cost of Living
650+
Product Roles

How Much Does a Product Designer Make in Raleigh?

Product Designers in Raleigh earn a median total compensation of $150K, 8% below the national average. Raleigh offers a balance of competitive salaries and manageable cost of living (index: 105). The strong job market features approximately 650+ open product roles, with strength in Developer Tools / Infrastructure and B2B SaaS (General).

Raleigh's cost-of-living index is 105 (vs 100 national average), placing it in the moderate range. A $150K Product Designer salary provides solid purchasing power relative to the national average.

$109K$202K
P25-P75 Median

AI Specialization Premium in Raleigh

Standard Product Designer
$150K
$125K - $186K
AI-Specialized Product Designer
$168K
$140K - $208K

Product Designers with AI/ML experience earn a 12% premium in Raleigh. Raleigh has a strong AI ecosystem, increasing demand for AI-skilled product talent.

Product Designer Salary by Company Type in Raleigh

FAANG / Big Tech
$195K
+30%
Pre-IPO Unicorn
$173K
+15%
Growth Startup (B/C)
$150K
Baseline
Enterprise / Fortune 500
$158K
+5%
Early Startup (Seed/A)
$128K
-15%
Agency / Consulting
$120K
-20%

Top Employers for Product Designers in Raleigh

Red Hat (IBM)CiscoEpic GamesSASMetLifePendoBandwidth

The Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is a top-10 tech market driven by Red Hat, Epic Games, and a deep university talent pipeline. Low cost of living and no extreme weather make it popular for Bay Area transplants.

Developer Tools / InfrastructureB2B SaaS (General)AI / Machine Learning

Other Product Roles in Raleigh

Chief Product Officer
15+ years
$442K
+195%
VP of Product
12+ years
$373K
+149%
Director of Product
10-15 years
$340K
+127%
Staff Product Manager
8-12 years
$290K
+93%
AI Product Manager
3-7 years
$281K
+87%
Platform Product Manager
5-9 years
$253K
+69%

Product Designer Salary in Other Cities

Charlotte, NC
moderate cost of living
$147K
-2%
Atlanta, GA
moderate cost of living
$150K
Same
Nashville, TN
moderate cost of living
$147K
-2%
Richmond, VA
moderate cost of living
$142K
-5%
San Francisco, CA
very-high cost of living
$196K
+31%
San Jose, CA
very-high cost of living
$192K
+28%
New York City, NY
very-high cost of living
$187K
+25%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Product Designer make in Raleigh?+
The median total compensation for a Product Designer in Raleigh is $150K, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $125K to $186K. This is 8% below the national average of $163K.
What companies hire Product Designers in Raleigh?+
Top employers for Product Designers in Raleigh include Red Hat (IBM), Cisco, Epic Games, SAS, MetLife. The Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is a top-10 tech market driven by Red Hat, Epic Games, and a deep university talent pipeline.
Is Raleigh a good city for Product Designers?+
Raleigh has a strong product job market with approximately 650+ open product roles. The cost of living is moderate. Strong industries include Developer Tools / Infrastructure, B2B SaaS (General), AI / Machine Learning.
How does Product Designer salary in Raleigh compare to other cities?+
Raleigh pays 8% below the national average for Product Designers. For comparison, San Francisco pays +20%, New York pays +12%, and Austin is the baseline. Similar markets include Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, Richmond.
Do Product Designers in Raleigh earn more with AI experience?+
Yes. The AI specialization premium for Product Designers in Raleigh is 12%, bringing the median from $150K to $168K. Raleigh has a strong AI ecosystem, which increases demand for AI-skilled PMs.
View National Product Designer SalaryFull PM Salary ExplorerCareer Path Finder